Lydell Grant (DOB: 3-19-77) is charged with murder in the 351st State District Court. He is accused in the killing of Aaron Michael Scheerhoorn, 28, of Houston, who was pronounced dead at Ben Taub General Hospital.

Lydell Grant (DOB: 3-19-77) is charged with murder in the 351st State District Court. He is accused in the killing of Aaron Michael Scheerhoorn, 28, of Houston, who was pronounced dead at Ben Taub General

A 35-year-old man who chased his victim down a Montrose street before fatally stabbing him in front of several witnesses at a nightclub two years ago was sentenced to life in prison for murder Thursday.

Lydell Elliott Grant was convicted of killing Aaron Scheerhoorn, 28, after chasing him to Blur Bar on the corner of Pacific and Crocker around 11:40 p.m. December 10, 2010.

Police said Scheerhoorn ran to the bar, and he said he had been stabbed. He was turned away at the door. Witnesses at the bar said Grant then arrived and stabbed Scheerhoorn several more times, wounding him in the chest, abdomen, arm and left side, authorities said.

Died in hospital

Police said Grant walked away from the scene and was arrested days later because of a Crime Stoppers tip. Scheerhoorn was taken by ambulance to Ben Taub General Hospital where he died that night.

The brutal slaying inspired community organizers to create a garden at the corner of California and Grant streets where they planted a lilac tree.

Alan Everett, vice president of the foundation, said no one really knows why Grant stabbed Scheerhoorn. He sat through the week-long trial and said no one testified about whether the two men knew each other before the slaying.

"We don't know for sure if they did or didn't," Everett said.

He said the jury heard information that Grant was a gang member and that he had been arrested several times for robberies, credit card abuse and possession of marijuana. Scheerhoorn had also been arrested for assault and was sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled substance in 2008, according to court records.